Metropolitan Alexy with life

1480s

• Alpatov 1974: The end of the 15th century.
• Lazarev 1980: 1480s
• Lazarev 2000/1: 1480s
• PE-01 2000: Late 15th century
• Iconography of the State Tretyakov Gallery 2019: approx. 1481 (?)

State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
Inv. 013289

Comes from the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

The icon "Metropolitan Alexy" and the icon paired with her "Metropolitan Peter" are the most ancient hagiographic icons of Moscow saints. Compare both icons side by side.

See in the "Gallery":

Quoted below:

Antonova, Mneva 1963

With. 336¦ 279. Metropolitan Alexy, with life 1 .

1 Information about the biography of Metropolitan Alexy (born around 1292–1298 - died in 1378), an outstanding statesman, has been preserved in the chronicles. The son of the boyar Byakont, Alexy, played a prominent role in government as early as the reign of Ivan Ivanovich the Red (1353–1359). In childhood, Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy (1359-1389), Metropolitan Alexy was his guardian and was the head of government. For four early editions of the life of Metropolitan Alexy, developed over a hundred years, from the middle of the 15th century, see:, M., 1871, pp. 132–140, 243. V. O. Klyuchevsky comes to the conclusion that “seventy- eighty years later, after the death of the famous saint in Moscow, they did not know how to write a decent and faithful biography of him, even on behalf of the Grand Duke and Metropolitan with the cathedral ”(ibid., p. 140; about the biography of Alexy, see also: E. E. Golubinsky, History of the Russian Church, vol. II, 1st half, 1900, pp. 171–225; "Essays on the history of the USSR", the period of feudalism, part II (XIV-XV centuries), M., 1953, p. 356).

Dionysius, apparently, used the text of his life, revised around 1486, in which, perhaps, the most “new” miracle was the “healing” in 1462 of the lame miracle monk Naum (the last, twentieth brand of the icon). Later "miracles", such as those in 1518-1519. were listed in the Nikon and Resurrection chronicles, at the time of writing the icons were not yet widely known.

The life depicted in the hallmarks of the icon reflects some of the real features of the biography of Metropolitan Alexy, preserved in historical sources. Alexy was tonsured a monk in 1315 at the Moscow Epiphany Monastery (mark 4). He was appointed bishop of Vladimir, in 1352 (mark 5). He was appointed Metropolitan of All Rus' in 1354. He went to the Horde to Khan Berdibek and "healed" Khan Taidula in 1357 (marks 9, 10, 11, 12). He founded the Chudov Monastery in 1365 (mark 14), where he was buried in 1378 (mark 15). His remains were found in 1448 (marks 17, 18, 19, 20).

Early 16th century 2 . Dionysius.

2 In contrast to the common dating of the icon of the 70–80s. XV century., It is attributed to the beginning of the XVI century. on the basis of her style, representing the classical, perfect expression of the skill of Dionysius, most fully manifested in the painting of the Ferapontov Monastery. In the XV century. we do not know works so close to these frescoes.

The need for grandiose icons glorifying the most ancient Moscow saints could have arisen precisely after the reconstruction of the Cathedral of the Chudov Monastery in 1501–1503, which drew attention to its founder, who became famous for “miracles” still fresh in the memory of Muscovites of that time, eclipsing the glory of Alexy’s predecessor, Metropolitan Peter . In addition, as shown by the court case of Vassian Patrikeev (in the book: “Readings of the Society of Russian History and Antiquities”, 1847–1848, book 9), freethinkers of the first decade of the 16th century. doubted the effectiveness of the Moscow "wonderworkers", which could prompt the order and placement in the Assumption Cathedral of icons-programs, personally convincing of the power of the saints.

On the centerpiece is a full-length, full-face figure in a reddish-brown sakkos decorated with golden crosses in green circles outlined in a bluish-gray border 3 . On the head is a white doll. The arms are outstretched, the right one is blessing, in the left is the Gospel with a red edge, standing on a light green veil (kerchief).

3 The sakkos depicted on the icon is close in color and pattern to the original attire of Metropolitan Alexy, stored in the State. Armory.

The centerpiece is framed with twenty hallmarks of life. Stamp order:

1. Birth of Eleutherius-Alexius. The mother in a white robe sits on a bed. The girl brings her a drink in a sule. A woman preparing to bathe a baby is depicted at the feet, trying with her hand to see if it is warm. With. 336
   With. 337¦ water in the font.
2. Bringing into teaching. The Chernigov boyar Fyodor Byakont, the father of the future metropolitan, accompanied by his entourage, brought the boy to the monk. Behind them rises a round exedra 4 .

1. Dream of Eleutherius. A young man in short clothes sleeps, lying on his back, in front of a hut, standing in the middle of light hills, overgrown with low bushes. To the right, behind the hut, you can see a wicker snare with birds caught in it. Birds sit on the bushes and walk among the rocks. According to the life of Metropolitan Alexy, during his sleep he hears the words: "I will make you a fisherman," foreshadowing his power over the souls of the flock.
2. The tonsure of Eleutherius. The boy was given the name Alexis. The monk-mentor depicted in the second stamp brought the youth to the brethren of the Moscow Epiphany Monastery, who raised many "princes of the church." Alexy in a cassock and mantle bows before the priest. Behind you can see a red throne, above which rises a single-dome building with red roofs 5 .

1. The appointment of Alexy as a bishop of the city of Vladimir. Metropolitan Theognost holds the charter above the head of the bowed Alexy, dressed in episcopal robes. The composition is closed by the figures of the metropolitan clergy. A single-dome building with a green roof, a side-altar in the form of a chamber with a gable roof and a throne in front of it denotes the Cathedral of the Assumption - the chair of the Moscow Metropolitan.
2. Alexy in the Horde. The metropolitan stands with a book in his hands in front of the khan sitting on the throne. Dressed in red clothes, the khan with a royal cap on his head shows Alexy the seat prepared for him next to the throne, covered with precious fabrics. Behind the metropolitan, his boyars hold gifts for the khan - patterned golden clothes. Khan is surrounded by bodyguards - warriors in helmets and pointed hats. The tent, visible between Alexy and the khan, set up near low hills, is decorated with ornaments.
3. Alexy asks Sergius of Radonezh to release his disciple Andronik to be abbess in the Spassky (later Andronikov) monastery founded by the Metropolitan in 1361. In front of Alexy, who is sitting in a white cassock, stands Sergius, hands outstretched, accompanied by two monks from the brethren of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Behind Alexy is the metropolitan boyar. Behind - chambers with colored roofs.
4. Alexy blesses Andronicus for hegumenship. The Metropolitan laid his hand on the head of a young monk bowing to him with a black doll thrown back over his shoulders. Behind them is the Spassky Monastery. Above the opening of the main entrance - the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, protected by a canopy 6 .

6 In the life of Sergius of Radonezh, revised by Pachomius in the middle of the 15th century, it is said that this image was painted by Andrei Rublev.

1. Alexy prays at the tomb of Metropolitan Peter before leaving for the Horde. Alexis stands in front of the tomb, holding an unfolded scroll in his hands. He reads a prayer. Alexis is accompanied by the clergy in white robes. With. 337
   With. 338¦ The lad holds his staff. A semicircular low building with a wide step in front of it 7 and a single-domed building with four zakomaras depict the tomb of Metropolitan Peter in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

1. Khan meets Alexy, who is heading to the Horde. Khan knelt before the metropolitan. Behind him are the courtiers in colored clothes and high shaggy hats. One of them holds the royal cap of the khan and his curved saber with a white handle, the other - a chest with gifts. Alexy, leaning on a staff, holds out his hand to the khan. Alexy is accompanied by a monk and boyars. Behind - light transparent slides.
2. Alexy heals Queen Taidula. The khansha's bed stands in the middle of the hills. Supported by a maid, Taidula sits in front of a tent. Alexy brings to her eyes the “byliye”, dipped in a bowl of water, which the youth holds in front of him. A priest with a book and kliroshans are depicted in white vestments. Behind you can see the boyar in a scarlet hat.
3. Prince of Moscow 8 with the boyars meets Alexy upon his return from the Horde. The Metropolitan brings the cross to the lips of the bowed prince, in a caftan and robe with hanging long sleeves. The “children of the boyars” and the boyars are crowding behind him. One of them is holding a prince's hat. The clergy in festive attire following the metropolitan. Behind them rise mountains. On the right is a tall hailstone depicting Moscow. The domed and gable buildings inside the city are the Assumption Cathedral and the prince's tower.

According to the chronicle, Alexy went to the Horde once - in 1357. At that time, Ivan Ivanovich Krasny (1353–1359) reigned in Moscow. If we follow the version of the life of Alexy confused by Pachomius and later editions and consider that the metropolitan was in the Horde for the second time in 1361, then Prince. Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy (1359–1389).

1. Alexy, feeling the approach of death, offers Sergius of Radonezh to become the Metropolitan of Moscow. Sergius in a robe sits in front of Alexy on a long, low and wide bench. Behind the throne of the metropolitan stands a monk with a casket containing "gold" offered to Sergius as a pledge of hierarchship. Between Sergius and Alexy, a ciborium rises above the wall, connected by a velum to a pillar on the left. To the right are low chambers.
2. Alexy prepares a tomb for himself in the Miracle Monastery. Standing in front of the Cathedral of the Miracle in Khonekh with the Annunciation aisle on the right 9 , the Metropolitan is making a speech to the craftsmen who are lining the tomb with stone. Alexy is standing on torn yellow sand or clay. The composition is closed by the pink and gray walls of the Chudov Monastery.

9 See K. K. Romanov, On the forms of the Moscow Assumption Cathedral in 1326 and 1472. - In the book: "Materials and research on the archeology of the USSR", M., 1955, No. 44, pp. 12–13.

1. Repose of Alexy. In front of the Cathedral of the Miracle in Khonekh, a townsman in green clothes closes the tomb with a high gable lid, in which Alexy rests with the Gospel on his chest. He is buried by the bishop with the clergy in white robes. At the feet stands the flock headed by Dmitry Donskoy (left) and Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovsky.
2. Finding relics. Within the walls of the Chudov Monastery, bishops led by Metropolitan Jonah and Muscovites with the family of Prince Vasily the Dark in front of them worship the "imperishable" body of Alexy.

17–19. Miracle about the dead baby 10 . The action takes place in the Miracle Monastery. In the middle, near a high two-tiered belfry, parents mourn their dead child. On the left, Alexy, leaning out of the Cathedral of the Miracle, stretches out his hand to the baby wrapped in funeral shrouds. On the right, the mother of the resurrected child gives the priest of the church “in the name of Alexy” an icon with his image. These three hallmarks are connected by the monastery walls of Chudov that unite them. With. 338
With. 339¦ monastery 11 .

10 The compositional combination of several hallmarks into one is typical for the painting of the beginning of the 16th century. See, for example, the hallmarks in the lower left corner on the later icon of Vladimir, Boris and Gleb, with life (see No. 410).

11 The Chudov Monastery depicted on these hallmarks, despite the conditional nature of the image, conveys some features of its buildings as they looked in the era of the icon painting - at the beginning of the 16th century.

On the drawing of the Moscow Kremlin 1600-1605. (the so-called Godunovsky - see about him: I. E. Grabar [ed.], History of Russian Art, vol. II, M., 1914, p. 137) in the Miracle Monastery in the foreground you can distinguish a cathedral, a church and a bell tower . Here the Cathedral of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael in Khonekh, rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century, is depicted as having five domes. A survey of this cathedral in 1929 showed that it was originally single-domed (see: P. N. Maksimov, Cathedral of the Spaso-Andronikov Monastery in Moscow. - In the book: “Architectural monuments of Moscow of the XI-XVII centuries”, M., 1947, p. 22, note 1). This is how Dionysius depicted the Cathedral of the Miracle on the icon “Metropolitan Alexy in his life”. It can be assumed that the ancient forms of these buildings are reflected in the belfry and church of Alexy presented by him.

1. The Miracle of the Miraculous Lame Monk Naum" 12 . There is an open tomb with relics in front of the Church of Alexy in the Miracle Monastery. To the left, on the edge of the coffin, a monk in a pinkish cassock placed his bare, injured leg. On the right, the faithful worship the relics. On both sides of the church rise the walls of the Chudov Monastery.

12 See Sophia's Second Chronicle. - In the book: PSRL, vol. 6, St. Petersburg, 1853: “In the summer of 6970 (1462) on January 24, a week, in the monastery at Mikhailov Chyud, at the tomb of St. Alexei the Metropolitan, Naum forgave the lame black on the tree.” The legend about this "miracle" was compiled by Metropolitan Theodosius (1461-1464; see ibid., pp. 325-330).

The faces are painted in float, golden ocher with browning on olive sankir, without sliders. The color scheme is dominated by white and cold, transparent, light undertones of pink, yellowish and greenish hues, combined with bright, dense spots of scarlet cinnabar. The centerpiece is written on a light green background, with traces of a cloud ornament 13 . Manure in the form of greenish slides with transparent white flakes. The backgrounds of the hallmarks and the margin are gold, the edge is green, of an olive tone (preserved at the top).

13 This background is not common; he is known on icons associated with the Moscow school. For an early example of a cloudy background, see the Moscow icon of the first half of the 15th century, depicting Nicholas of Mozhaisky (see No. 259). The belt deesis of the middle of the 15th century is decorated with the same background. (See No. 238). A cloudy background is also found at the end of the 15th century: see, for example, the images of the archangels Michael and Gabriel, as well as John the Baptist in the funds of the Museum of the Moscow Novodevichy Convent. Parts of a full-length deesis tier from Uglich, where the background is also decorated with soft “cloudy” patterns, belong to the same time (see No. 289). Half-length icons of John Chrysostom and Basil the Great from the original iconostasis of the cathedral of the Kalyazinsky Monastery (now the State Historical Museum, church of St. Basil the Blessed), dating back to the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th centuries, also have cloudy backgrounds.

The board is linden, the dowels are mortise, counter. Pavoloka, gesso, egg tempera. 197×152.

Comes from the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin 14 .

14 In the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin there is an icon of Metropolitan Peter, with a life, paired with the image of Alexy in the State Tretyakov Gallery. See about the icon of Metropolitan Peter: “Artistic monuments of the Moscow Kremlin”, M., 1956, pp. 40–41.

Disclosed in the Kremlin in 1915–1916 by E. I. Bryagin, under the supervision of the commission of A. A. Shirinsky-Shikhmatov. Instead of the ancient inscriptions that have not been preserved, E. I. Bryagin made cinnabar ones, arbitrarily borrowing texts from the life of Metropolitan Alexy in the Makarievsky Chetya-Minei (a later compilation edition of the life of the middle of the 16th century).

Life of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia

Icon of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow

In the Russian church chronicle it is not easy to find a person more outstanding than metropolitan Alexy. The unification processes in Ancient Rus' were born thanks to his efforts. Much effort was given to them and to strengthen Christianity.

Historical realities of Kievan Rus of the 14th century

The future Metropolitan of Moscow Alexy lived in a difficult era of internecine fragmentation of the Russian state. At the end of the thirteenth century, Rus' was finally divided into two independent parts. Only the Orthodox faith remained the same.

The city of Vladimir became the real and spiritual center of Rus'. Mongol-Tatar domination greatly weakened the already weak state. However, it was this dominion that became the impetus for strengthening the principality of Moscow, around which all of Rus' subsequently united.

Bakont Elevfery (Simeon) Fedorovich

Saint Alexy was born into the noble boyar family of Fyodor Byakont. Unfortunately, the exact date of the saint's birth has not reached our time. According to one information, this is the year one thousand two hundred and ninety-three, according to another - one thousand three hundred. The primary sources also differ in the name of the Saint. According to the Moscow vault, he is Simeon, while other materials attribute the name Eleutherius to the saint. Perhaps he had two names - a direct one (the name of a saint given at birth), and a baptismal name.

As a twelve-year-old teenager, Eleutherius was marked by the Lord. When he hunted birds with snares, he fell asleep while doing this. In a dream, he heard the question: “Why are you catching birds, Alexei? You need to be a fisher of people!” This event was the beginning of a new life. The youth Eleutherius decided to give his life to priestly service. He became a monk at the Epiphany Monastery. During the tonsure, the young man received the name Alexy.

Beginning of church activity

He lived in this monastery for 20 years. Spiritual exploits glorified his name. In order to better understand the patristic writings, he mastered Greek orthography. Metropolitan Theognost was a Greek and understood that he needed an assistant of Russian origin to lead the metropolis. He decided that this assistant would be Alexy, who soon became his governor. The saint served in this field for 12 years.

Useful materials

Before Theognost's departure from life, Alexy became a bishop in Vladimir, and then a metropolitan.

The trip of St. Alexis to Constantinople

Now the support of the Patriarch was needed, and ambassadors were sent to Byzantium. This was the first trip of the saint to Constantinople. Alexy was nominated as the successor to the metropolitan at a time when Theognost was still alive. Then it was a necessary measure to maintain integrity and in order to exclude the influence of secular rulers, since not only local princes had control over the Kyiv metropolis. The Polish king and the ruler of Lithuania partly had such control.

In the thirteenth century, there were already attempts by various princes to create their own metropolis. The Lithuanian and Polish sovereigns also tried to do this. But most of all, Prince Olgerd distinguished himself in this. At that time, many Russian lands were already under his control. But it was not enough for him, he wanted to subjugate all of Rus'. However, this desire was hampered by the Church, uncontrolled by Olgerd, with its center in Vladimir. He needed his own metropolitan, controlled only by him.

In 1352, a certain monk Theodoret appeared in Constantinople, who announced that the Russian abbot had died. It wasn't true. Theodoret demanded that he be given the vacant metropolitan post. However, he couldn't get what he wanted. Nevertheless, he nevertheless received this post from Patriarch Theodosius, who violated church canons in doing so. The Archbishop of Novgorod Moses wanted to recognize the authority of Theodoret, but soon he received an order from the Patriarch of Constantinople to submit to Metropolitan Alexy.

Second trip to Constantinople

When Alexy was again on a visit to Constantinople, Bishop Roman also appeared there, who was equipped by his patron Olgerd. He wanted to see only Roman as metropolitan in his possession. Even earlier, Roman was appointed by the Patriarch of Bulgaria, but Kyiv did not recognize him. Patriarch Kallistos already established him as the Metropolis of Lithuania. For Alexy, a part of the metropolis, headed by Kiev, was retained, as well as the title "Metropolitan of All Rus'".

However, Roman decided that these lands were not enough for him and sent his ambassadors to Tver. An argument broke out between them. The Patriarch of Constantinople confirmed the former state of affairs.

Returning from Byzantium, a storm hit the saint's ship. Death threatened everyone who was on the ship. Alexy prayed to God for salvation and made a promise to the Lord that if he managed to be saved, then in gratitude he would erect a temple. According to this vow, the Andronikov Monastery was erected.

Relationship with the Horde

Concerned about the well-being of the church and state, Saint Alexei traveled to the Horde three times. The first time he went there according to the established procedure, when he had just been elected a saint. The second time he was summoned to the Horde by Khan Dzhanibek. Queen Taidula was ill. The best doctors tried to cure her, but to no avail. The woman ended up blind. By this time, Saint Alexy was known as a healer, and the Khan of the Horde ordered him to cure his wife. In case of refusal, he promised to plunder Rus'.

Healing Taidula

The meek saint considered himself unworthy to perform a miracle of healing, but he deeply believed in the Lord, for whom nothing is impossible, and agreed to come to the khan for the sake of the Fatherland, realizing that he could die and was ready for such an outcome.

The petition went beyond the measure of my strength, - said St. Alexis, - but I believe in the One Who made the blind see, - He will not despise the prayers of faith.

And then God encouraged him, showing a sign: before the road, Alexy served a prayer service, during which a candle suddenly ignited in front of the relics of St. Peter. This sign convinced the saint that the Lord would not leave him.

In the Horde, Alexy prayed a lot, asking the Lord to grant the unfortunate woman sight, and then washed her eyes with holy water. And a miracle happened - the khansha began to see, her sight returned to her.

Saint Alexy heals Khansha Taidula. Kapkov Ya. (1816-54).

The third time the saint arrived in the Horde, when Khan Berdibek began to threaten the Russians with war. The grateful Taidula helped. She remembered the good, and she managed to convince her son to grant Alexy another label, which confirmed all the previous rights of the Russian church.

Alexy traveled a lot on the affairs of the metropolis. In 1359 he was in Kyiv, where Olgerd captured him. Only thanks to God's help did the saint escape from captivity and return to Moscow.

Patronage to the juvenile Prince Dmitry

During the reign of Ivan the Red, the Moscow lands fell into decay, and after his death they passed into other hands, since the heir, Prince Dmitry (Donskoy), was only eight years old at that time.

Saint Alexy did not leave Moscow and the young prince, and tried to restore Dmitry to princely rights. He had to pacify the specific princes with the help of Sergius of Radonezh. Gradually, this policy gave its positive results: the state developed, and civil strife gradually began to subside.

Metropolitan Alexy made a lot of efforts to cool down the ambitions of the Suzdal ruler for the throne of Vladimir. He did this by arranging a marriage union between Dmitry of Moscow and Evdokia of Suzdal. This union, by political calculation, has become an excellent example to follow for centuries for friendly families with many children.

Works for the benefit of the Church

Thanks to the labors of the Metropolitan, monasticism developed in Rus'. Under him, the following monasteries were created: Spaso-Andronikov, Miracles and Simonov. With his blessing, the Vvedensky Vladychny Monastery was erected in Serpukhov, as well as the ancient Tsarekonstantinovsky near Vladimir and Blagoveshchensky in Nizhny Novgorod were revived.

Friendship with Rev. Sergius of Radonezh

Metropolitan Alexy was friendly with Abbot Sergius of Radonezh. He often visited him and talked about the affairs of the church. The wisdom and humility of Sergius confirmed Alexy's intention to appoint him as his successor. During the next conversation, he laid a cross on a friend, announcing that he was raising him to the rank of bishop, so that after his death he would take the throne. However, the humble Sergius rejected this proposal. Alexy tried to convince him for a long time, but he realized that if he continued to insist, then St. Sergius can go to some desert. He let him go home.

Death and burial of St. Alexia

Saint Alexy died on February 12, 1378. He wanted to be buried in the Miracle Monastery, and since he considered himself unworthy, he determined the burial place outside the altar. However, Prince Dmitry Donskoy, who revered the saint as his own father, and wishing to pay the last tribute to the great man, ordered that his body be placed in the church, near the altar.

Church and state activity of the saint

For twenty-four long and fruitful years St. Alexis ruled the Russian Church. He spread monasticism in Rus', creating and reviving many monasteries. It was under him that the veneration of St. Peter especially spread.

Alexy was also a major statesman for his era - he laid the foundations that would be the beginning of the unification of fragmented destinies around Moscow and the creation of a union of principalities, which in the future were able to get rid of the yoke of the Horde. His importance as a statesman is also evidenced by the fact that interstate agreements were sealed with the metropolitan seal.

Where are the relics of St. Alexy of Moscow

Half a century after his death, Alexy was canonized. In 1431, the relics of the Saint were found in the Miracle Monastery during repair work, which today are in the Cathedral of the Epiphany.

Address of the cathedral: Moscow, Central Administrative District, Basmanny lane, Spartakovskaya street, 15.

Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo, where the relics of St. Alexy of Moscow

saint's day of remembrance

Celebration of St. Alexy takes place several times a year:

• September 9 (transitional) - Cathedral of the Nizhny Novgorod Saints;
• 25 February;
• June 2 - Uncovering the relics;
• July 6 - Cathedral of Saints of Vladimir;
• August 12 - Cathedral of Samara Saints;
• September 23 - Cathedral of the Lipetsk Saints;
• October 18 - Cathedral of Moscow Saints.

What are the prayers of St. Alexy

Believers in their prayers ask him for recovery from eye diseases, for a just boss, and also for protecting the country from foreign invasion. On the heavenly intercession of St. Alexy is said in the canon on the acquisition of his honest relics:

For all Christians in trouble, a helper and a great intercessor for the city of Moscow, a gratuitous doctor who is ill, and a ready comforter for those who are in need and sorrow, and a warm intercessor for all the King, Christ God.

Written legacy

Several handwritten sources belonging to Alexy have come down to us. These are the Message and letters to Chervleny Yar, Instructions to Christians of the Nizhny Novgorod limits and the Charter on new posts. His spiritual letter has also come down to us, in which the saint bequeaths his ancestral lands to the Chudov Monastery. Also, the edited translation of the New Testament into Slavonic is associated with the name of the saint, although modern scholars doubt that this source belongs to the pen of Alexy.

Great Saint

The significance of St. Alexis in the state and church history of the Fatherland can hardly be overestimated. He is the only one of the clergy who was the guardian of the minor heir to the throne. Carrying out the aspirations of the Moscow rulers, he became a politician whose activities contributed to overcoming internecine fragmentation and uniting for the sake of defeating the Horde, creating the prerequisites for the emergence of a strong state with a single center in Moscow.

Icon of St. Alexis of Moscow

St. Alexy with life. Dionysius. Icon. Moscow. 1480s Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin. Moscow.

The original icon painting has been preserved: the image of "Metropolitan Alexy", painted by the icon painter Dionysius. Together with the pair icon "Metropolitan Peter" they are the most ancient hagiographic icons of Moscow saints. The icon dates from the 1480s.

Churches and parishes in honor of St. Alexia

In honor of St. Alexis, there are several churches and parishes in Russia:

• the Church of St. Alexis in the Rogozhskaya Sloboda is one of the oldest churches in honor of the saint, built in the middle of the 18th century in Moscow. His address: st. Stanislavsky, 29, building 3;
• ham St. Alexy in Tuapse, st. Poletaeva 6;
• parish of st. Alexy in the Republic of Tatarstan, r.p. Alekseevskoye, Cathedral Square, 1.

PPI: Volga Orthodox Institute

In the city of Togliatti, a higher educational institution, the Volga Orthodox Institute named after St. Alexis, was created.

Address: 445028, Samara region, Tolyatti, st. Revolutionary, 74.

Prayer

Prayer

O most honorable and sacred head and filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, the abode of the Savior with the Father, the great bishop, our warm intercessor, Saint Alexis! Standing at the Throne of all the King, and enjoying the Light of the Consubstantial Trinity, and cherubically from the Angels proclaiming the song of the Trisagion, having greatness and unexplored boldness to the All-Merciful Ruler, praying to save the people of your flock, your only language; affirm the well-being of the holy churches, decorate the bishops with the splendor of hierarchy; monastics to the feat of a good current strengthen; this city (or: all this; if in the monastery: this holy monastery) and all the cities and countries keep well and keep the holy faith without blemish so keep the Lord; die the whole world, deliver us from famine and destruction and save us from the attack of foreigners; console the old, punish the young (teach), be wiser to the mad, have mercy on widows, intercede for orphans, grow up babies, return captives, heal the weak and everywhere warmly calling on you and with faith flowing to the race of your honest and multi-healing relics, diligently falling down and praying to you from all misfortunes and troubles by your intercession of freedom, let us call you: O God-chosen shepherd, the star of the all-bright mental firmament, the secret of Zion, the invincible pillar, the world-inspired flower of paradise, the all-golden mouth of the Word, Moscow praise, all Russia's adornment! Pray for us the All-Generous and Human-loving Christ our God, and on the Day of the terrible Coming of His standing, He will deliver us and the joys of the saints, the communicants will create with all the saints forever. Amen. O Most Holy Father, Saint Alexis of Christ, our shepherd and teacher, do not reject us (names), who flow with faith to your intercession, but soon rush to pray to the King of kings and the Lord of lords, may He save His flock from the wolves that destroy it, and every country protect the Christian fence and save with your holy prayers from worldly rebellion and a coward, invasion of a foreigner and internecine strife, from smoothness and destruction, a flood, and a sword, and fire, and vain death, and as if by healing from the blindness of the Queen of Hagar, you saved your fatherland, so have mercy on us, in mind, word and deed in the darkness of sinful beings, and deliver us the wrath of God and eternal punishment, as if by your intercession and help, by His own mercy and grace, Christ God will give us a quiet and sinless life to live in this age and on By His terrible judgement, He will vouchsafe standing with all the saints on the right hand. Amen.

Troparion, kontakion, magnification

Troparion to Saint Alexis of Moscow and All Rus'

Like an apostle, and a doctor, and a favored minister, flowing to your honest race, St. Alexis, the God-wise miracle worker, converging in love in your memory, we lightly celebrate, rejoicing in songs and singing and glorifying Christ, such grace has granted you healing and your city great statement.

Troparion, tone 2 (Uncovering the relics)

Like a rich treasure, many children in the hidden lands, your honest relics found miraculous, all-blessed father to St. Alexis: from them we receive medicine, we enrich ourselves and glorify Christ, saying: Glory to Him who glorifies His saints.

magnificence

We magnify you, Father Alexis, and honor your holy memory, for you pray for us Christ our God.

Kontakion of Saint Alexy of Moscow.

The divine and most honorable Hierarch of Christ, / the new wonderworker Alexy, / let us all sing faithfully, people, let us please with love, like a great shepherd, / the servant and teacher of the wise land of Russia. having boldness towards God, deliver us from diverse circumstances, let us call you // Rejoice, affirmation of our city.

Canon

Canon of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow

Tone 8

Canto 1

Irmos: Pharaoh's charioteer sometimes immerse the miraculous Moses rod, striking the cross in the form and dividing the sea, but save Israel, the fugitive, the pedestrian, singing the song of God.

Chorus:

By the chariot of Thy grace, Lord, raise our thoughts from the bottom to the Mountain and make us praise Thy saint, St. Alexis, a song to You, God, singing.

With the chariot of your petitions, our mind, weighed down by worldly sorrows, exalt from the earthly to the Heavenly and instruct to praise you with dignity, Father Alexy, singing a victorious song to God.

Thou hast exalted the chariot of pride of this world with humility, and, taking up thy cross, thou hast followed Christ with kindness, and, having reached the haven of a mountainous village, sing a victorious song to God.

In the chariot of virtues, like Elijah the fiery, you ascended to Heaven, from then pray to God to send down, as if to have mercy on the grace of the Spirit, teaching us the song of victory to sing to God.

Bogorodichen: The fiery chariot, which carried God the Word, incarnated in Your womb, pray to Him diligently to be saved by Your servant, who flow to You and sing the song of victory to God.

Canto 3

Irmos: Heavenly circle of the Supreme Lord, and the Church of the Builder, You confirm me in Your love, desires to the edge, true affirmation, One Humanity.

Chorus: Holy Hierarch Father Alexy, pray to God for us.

The heavenly circle and all creatures, the Lord, foreknowledge of you, Father Alexis, the future shepherd of the good, entrust you with a flock of words, like the One Lover of mankind.

Loving the Creator of the circle of heaven, you are relieved with fasting, you have passed the sea of ​​​​passion and, ascending the virtues of dispassion, you have seen God, the One Lover of Man.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having ascended to the heights of the heavenly circle with God-reason, thou art cleverly there, inexpressible, and thou hast received the gift of miracle-working from God the Lover of mankind.

And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Bogorodichen: Heavenly circle of the Supreme Creator, wanting to be born from You, Most Pure, bring to You Gabriel: Rejoice, Virgin, the Lord is with You, One Lover of mankind.

Lord, have mercy, three times.

Sedalen, tone 4:

By the fragrant words of God's pasture, the verbal flock of Christ God-pleasingly brought up, by the pastoral God-spiritual correction with a rod on the right path of salvation, guiding like a good shepherd, you were rewarded with imperishable eternal life to receive the reward in Mountainous Zion from the Shepherd Christ God. Pray him, venerable Alexis, for us, your verbal sheep, to be preserved from the invisible predatory wolves.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Your sacred top was anointed with the Divine Spirit, Bishop Alexy, and rich grace descended on you, and abide, like the world, descending on the head of the brother, the brother of Aaron, and descending, like the dew of Aermon, and irrigating with drops of your good deeds flowing to the race of your relics and calling to you diligently: reverend father, pray to Christ the God of sins forsaking to grant those who honor worthy your holy memory.

And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Bogorodichen: The secretly commanded reception in the mind, in the blood of Joseph with diligence, appears incorporeal, saying Unskillful: bowing the descent of Heaven, it invariably fits all in You, Him, and seeing in Your wombs, having received the slavish sight, I am horrified to call You: Rejoice, Unbrideless Bride.

Canto 4

Irmos: You are my fortress, Lord, You are my strength, You are my God, You are my joy, do not leave the bowels of the Father and visit our poverty. To those with the prophet Habakkuk I call Thee: glory to Thy power, Lover of mankind.

Chorus: Holy Hierarch Father Alexy, pray to God for us.

You are my fortress, O Lord, you are my strength, crying out, Father Alexis, you have accepted the gift of bodily ailments to heal and evil spirits to drive away from those who call to Christ: glory to your power, Lover of mankind.

You are the light of the Russian land and the city of Moscow, the wall is indestructible, but the winner is against the enemies, and an accomplice of Christ-named people in wars, calling to Christ: glory to Your power, Lover of mankind.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Thou hast theologianed the Uncreated Unit, existing in Triech Faces, unmergeable and indivisible, minding thy flock, Father Alexis, call unceasingly: Glory to Thy power, Lover of mankind.

And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Bogorodichen: You are truly my fortress and salvation, O Mother of God, and put my hope on Thee, save me, Pure Virgin, and strengthen the one born from You to call: glory to Your power, Humane.

Canto 5

Irmos: Thou hast thrown me away from Thy presence, Light Necessary, and has an alien darkness covered me, cursed? but turn me and direct my path to the light of your commandments, I pray.

Chorus: Holy Hierarch Father Alexy, pray to God for us.

Vskuyu opposition take up arms against us, having thee a strong champion? You, Father Alexis, put down their audacity and show them fearfully our army with your prayer.

Are we discouraged, oppressed by many sorrows, having a mournful comforter - St. Alexis, delivering us from our troubles and sorrows and from enemies visible and invisible?

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Vskuyu, father Alexis, bodily infirmities find on us, and troubles surround us, a doctor in your illnesses and a comforter in sorrows? deliver us from these with your prayers.

And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Bogorodichen: Vskuyu overwhelm me with waves of passions, the helmsman of Christ gave birth, the Virgin of the All-Immaculate? You pray to Him to seduce me and direct my path to the path of His commandments, I pray.

Canto 6

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, many of my iniquities and raise up from the depths of evil, I pray, I cry out to Thee, and hear me, O God of my salvation.

Chorus: Holy Hierarch Father Alexy, pray to God for us.

Cleanse us, Savior, from many of our sins and sickness with the prayers of Your Saint Alexy, and grant peace and unity to Your Churches.

Cleanse our hearts and thoughts of your intercessions, father, and, having received from us the prayers brought to you, ask Christ to find us great mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having cleansed your heart, Father Alexis, and having sharpened the reed of your tongue with the Spirit, you wrote in the hearts of the faithful the word of God's understanding with your teachings.

And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Bogorodichen: Having cleansed Thee by the Spirit, the All-Immaculate, Archangel Gabriel, knowing, calling Thee: rejoice, Virgin Mary, the fallen appeal and oaths are resolved.

Lord, have mercy, three times. Glory, and now:

Kontakion, tone 8

The divine and most honorable Hierarch of Christ, the new miracle worker Alexy, all singing faithfully, people, let us appease with love, like a great shepherd, minister and teacher of the wise Russian land. Today, in his memory, we have flown, let us joyfully cry out a song to the God-bearing: as if having boldness towards God, deliver us from diverse situations, let us call to you: rejoice, affirmation of our city.

Ikos

Seeing miracles of the marvelous and most honorable miracle worker, giving healing to everyone who flows from the soul with faith, and invisibly visiting Christ's people, and enlightening the Russian land, joyfully from the soul, all descended together to the race of his relics, hearing and seeing miracles, many and the source of healing is inexhaustible , pure hearts and enlightened minds, like a fragrant censer, bringing virtuous fruits from the soul, bringing and rejoicing, let us call to him, saying: Rejoice, Father, our honest teacher, as if you accepted your labors recompense and in the Highest you are settling, praying for us the Humanity God. Thou hast received the gift of miracles, father and teacher of the Russian land, and a fair amount of praise for the saint, and a strong accomplice to our army in battle. Rejoice, Saint Alexis, our city of affirmation.

Canto 7

Irmos: From Judea it came down, the youths in Babylon sometimes, by the faith of the Trinity flame, the cave trodden, singing: Fathers, God, blessed be Thou.

Chorus: Holy Hierarch Father Alexy, pray to God for us.

Jealous of Judea as a youth, you quenched the fiery passions, singing to Christ, blessed Alexy: God of the fathers, blessed be Thou.

From Judea, the youths imitated thou, who lives in thee with the grace of the Spirit enlightened, thou sang to Christ: God of the fathers, blessed be thou.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

From Judea, we are jealous of the youth, seeing the relics of your miraculous, we inflame with love, we call to Christ: Fathers, God, blessed be Thou.

And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Bogorodichen: From Judea, Your youths foreshadowed Christmas, Virgin of the All-Pure, for the fire in the cave did not fall on them, singing: Fathers, God, blessed be Thou.

Canto 8

Irmos: The King of Heaven, Whom the warriors of the Angels sing to, praise and exalt for all eternity.

Chorus: Holy Hierarch Father Alexy, pray to God for us.

Thou didst teach praise to the King of Heaven, calling to thy flock: sing and exalt Christ forever.

Pray for the King of Heaven for us, your children, who joyfully sing and exalt Him forever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Standing before the King of Heaven, look down upon your flock, who sing and exalt Christ forever.

And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Bogorodichen: Thou hast given birth to the King of Heaven, Virgin, Whom the Angels sing and exalt for all eternity.

Canto 9

Irmos: Truly the Theotokos, we confess Thee, saved by Thee, Pure Virgin, with the Incorporeal faces of Thee majestically.

Chorus: Holy Hierarch Father Alexy, pray to God for us.

Truly, the light of the world appeared to you, shining with virtues, and the shepherd of your flock was fine, Christ magnifying.

Truly, the memory of you, Father, is a great miracle worker, sharpening many miracles faithfully to you who come and magnify Christ.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Bishops and priests, monks and all the people celebrate the memory of St. Alexis with great glory.

And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Bogorodichen: Truly, you are the salvation of Christians: for you gave birth to Christ, saving us, the Pure Virgin magnifying you.

Svetilen

The grace of the Holy Spirit, dwelling in you, the saint of your show, Christ, entrust your flock to pasture on spiritual pastures, for the sake of Him you were trying to instruct people, and now in Heaven, rejoicing, live.

Akathist

Akathist to St. Alexy the Wonderworker

Kondak 1

Elected bishop and servant of the Great Bishop Jesus, Blessed Alexis! As if having been honored with many of your good deeds, having nothing to repay, let us praise you and cry out from the heart, preaching your miracles: ask us from the King of Heaven to comfortably live the rest of this life and reach the Mountainous Jerusalem, and there, having seen you in blissful joy, we will call to you : Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

Angela, vegetative from the earth! The Angel of the Great Council, having foreseen the kindness of your soul, first chose you a century, to bring the good news to the captives, remission and blind insight. From there, we, sinners, having received insight and remission of sins by the light of your deeds, cry out: Rejoice, blessed branch of the root of the good; Rejoice, kindest son of honest parents. Rejoice, sprouting of a fragrant garden; Rejoice, adopted by the spiritual rebirth of God the Father. Rejoice, sealed by the chrismation of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, name, like a world poured out, perceiving from above. Rejoice, consecrated from the swaddling clothes to God; Rejoice, courageously putting the yoke of Christ on yourself. Rejoice, earthly and fleeting, as if you were smart, sane; Rejoice, he is the man who builds - Jesus hires a laborer in the morning in His grapes. Rejoice, holy image of God and likeness; Rejoice, beauty of soul and body, gladdening all eyes. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

Seeing by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, as if wickedness will not stand in the righteous judgment, but the essence is like dust, which the wind sweeps up, from young nails, blessed Alexis, you did not become their advice, but, diligently learning the law of God, and inspired others to sing: Alleluia .

The mind is received from above, the child is small, if you don’t work in vain in catching birds, you’ve been trying to leave all the red on the earth. The same we invite you: Rejoice, called to catch people, rejoice, to the Mountain like on winged wings. Rejoice, you who tested the sea of ​​life with wisdom; Rejoice, his excitement is safely past. Rejoice, good earth, who received the seed of the word of God; Rejoice, earth, which has grown a hundredfold fruit. Rejoice, wheat, heavenly bread arranged; Rejoice, observant in the granary of heaven. Rejoice, having found precious beads and all of them, you had a Christmas tree, you bought; Rejoice, green wearing, like delicious food, nourished from youth. Rejoice, having strengthened yourself in ascetic labors with all-night standing and unceasing prayers; Rejoice, drowning many demons in the sea of ​​your tears. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

With power from above, when the All-Holy Spirit clothed you, setting the pastor of the Russian Church, then you breathed praise to all your people: Alleluia.

It’s better, Father Alexy, from heaven you sing songs to be, and not from the earth: who from a person can, according to the dignity of your shrine, tell greatness? But we, conquered by your love, cry out to you: Rejoice, despised valley and red of the world; Rejoice, inflamed desire for the highest beauties. Rejoice, thou who didst love the One Christ from the heart; Rejoice, clinging to the One with all your soul. Rejoice, rule of pious faith; Rejoice, good worker of the grapes of Christ. Rejoice, multiplier gifted talent; Rejoice, thou who entered into the joy of thy Lord. Rejoice, filling us with spiritual sweetness; Rejoice, censer favorable to God. Rejoice, you who ascend the fragrance of prayer to the Throne of the Most High; Rejoice, loving representative of God for us. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

Thou didst tame the storm of worthless thoughts, constantly raised up from the devil, to the end, and, rejoicing in such a victory, solemnly sang to God: Alleluia.

Hearing and seeing much of your virtue, the Orthodox estate elects the pastor of the Church of Christ, but we, rejoicing about this, say to you: Rejoice, worthy seated on the seat of the apostles; Rejoice, helm of the ship of Christ. Rejoice, wise mentor; Rejoice, uncharming star, contained in the hand of Christ. Rejoice, indefatigable in the feat of teaching; Rejoice, preacher of the unknown and secret Wisdom of God. Rejoice, impartial champion of Truth; Rejoice, mouth of the godless and ungodly to the accuser and guardian. Rejoice, timely and untimely in the teaching of the apostle jealous; Rejoice, by the power given to you from above, wise and soulful people, knit and determined. Rejoice, consoler of the repentant; Rejoice, good guardian of your flock. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

With the rich Blood of the one who redeemed the human race from a legal oath by faith in vain, the Lord and zeal for Him with love inflame, you incessantly proclaimed: Alleluia.

Seeing the great prince of your greatness of spirit, courage and love for your Fatherland, beg you to go to the godless Tsar Verdevir: you have quenched his green anger at the Christian people with good and meek words. This is your beneficence, our father Alexis, we, the sons of Russia, confessing, gratefully cry out to you: Rejoice, courageous spirit of the warrior; Rejoice, pillar of our fortress from the face of the enemy. Rejoice, weapon that conquers adversaries without an army; Rejoice, shield, protecting from adversity. Rejoice, like a kokosh, guarding your chicks; Rejoice, rod, reinforcing the falling. Rejoice, shepherd who drives the wolves away from the flock; Rejoice, thou didst not lay down thy life for the sheep. Rejoice, true guardian of the love of Christ; Rejoice, not like your own, but even like your neighbor. Rejoice, quick hearing of those who mourn; Rejoice, quiet haven overwhelmed by sadness. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

The preachers of your shrine to us are your incorruptible honest relics, after many years lying before our eyes, even if it is sealed by your existing mouth by silence, both cry out incessantly: Alleluia.

Ascend the glory of many of your miracles not only in this glorious city, but also in the unfaithful Hagarites, by no means their ungodly king Janibek desires, but pray for his blind queen: you, having placed all your hope on the Physician of souls and bodies, by the power of your prayers asked for that vision be. But we, surprised by such a glorious miracle, cry out to you: Rejoice, instrument of the miracles of God; Rejoice, revealing the treasure of the power of God in a meager vessel. Rejoice, predictions of the gospel performer; Rejoice, right hand of the wonderworking of Jesus. Rejoice, tongue of Christ, heal with a word; Rejoice, preserver of the apostolic strength. Rejoice, enlightener of the blind; Rejoice, healer of the weak. Rejoice, secret seers; Rejoice, caster of demons from man. Rejoice, by the power of miracles and the unfaithful king, the Church honor and exalt the bowed one; Rejoice, give not only bodily, but spiritual vision. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

I want to please your Creator, not only the seventh day you sanctified, but you spent the whole week of your life in holiness, singing to God: Alleluia.

The Creator, the all-blessed Alexis, the earthly angel and the heavenly man, showed thee a new creation. The same miraculously we sing to you: Rejoice, our Father, dwell in spirit in Heaven, and rest your body on earth; Rejoice, O marvelous majesty of God, tell all earthly people. Rejoice, subduing the flesh to the spirit; Rejoice, captivating your mind in the obedience of faith. Rejoice, barring the mouth of the roaring hellish lion; Rejoice, extinguishing the fire of carnal lust. Rejoice, crushing idol of the love of money; Rejoice, triumphant over all the machinations of the enemy. Rejoice, deny yourself and submit your will to the will of God; Rejoice, feeding on the sacred bread of Heaven. Rejoice, greedy and thirsty for the only truth; Rejoice, instilling the Kingdom of God within yourself. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

A strange miracle of your life, saint, is flowing to your all-honored power, with them also bringing a small prayer, great grace from God is always given, accepting, with each other we joyfully proclaim to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

Having all your mind in the highest, resting, and lower, your flock, you did not leave, praying for it to the Most High Ruler, Reverend Alexy. Do not forget now us, inviting you diligently: Rejoice, city, with virtues exalted above Heaven; Rejoice, reko, washing our filth. Rejoice, source, quench your sinful thirst; Rejoice, precious stone, decorate the whole Russian land. Rejoice, gold, radiating from itself to all ends; Rejoice, silver, purified from sinful defilements by the seven. Rejoice, cymbal, calling everyone to the praise of God; Rejoice, lamplighter, illumine those who sit in darkness. Rejoice, tree, overshadowing from the heat of sin; Rejoice, blessed branch of the vine of Christ. Rejoice, healthy member of the Mysterious Body; Rejoice, child of the glory of the resurrection. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

Thou didst consume all the unplaced passions of the grace of the Lord to the end in your dead flesh, Saint Alexis! The same was thou like a tree planted at the source of the waters, giving fruit in its season and singing to God: Hallelujah.

Thou hast exalted the Vetias of many things with the spiritual power of your word, telling people the wondrous greatness of God and feeding smooth souls with bread from Heaven. But we, such an embracing heart, gratefully call you: Rejoice, cedar, in the Church of Christ, as in Lebanon, multiplied; Rejoice, like a phoenix, prosperous in the house of God. Rejoice, cypress tree, filling the hearts of the faithful with incense; Rejoice, grapes, exude sweet piety wine for us. Rejoice, krine, decorate the mountain fields; Rejoice, fruitful fig tree. Rejoice, wheat, nourishing with pure bread; Rejoice, olive tree, pouring out the oil of mercy. Rejoice, flower, prosperous from the root of Christ; Rejoice, sweet wine, cast out in the winepress of Jesus. Rejoice, immortal drink drunk today; rejoice, and prepare a heavenly meal for us. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

To save even the people entrusted to you, the law and the Gospel preached all the days: yes, knowing many of your sins, they run with prayer unceasingly to Christ, the Savior of the world, from those who receive forgiveness from the Worthless, taught them to sing: Alleluia.

Thou wall, all-blessed Alexis, of Mountainous Jerusalem, from the ten commandments, as from ten great stones, arranged by the Holy Spirit! Thou hadst the law of the Lord in the midst of thy womb, the same and the verb to thee: Rejoice, the One God, and Him whom He sent to know Jesus Christ; Rejoice, as if you did not bow to the idol of temporary well-being. Rejoice, for you have taken the name of the Lord your God in vain; Rejoice, dedicating every hour of your life to God from youth. Rejoice, for you have honored everyone, even fathers and mothers will be called; Rejoice, destroying anger against your neighbor in your heart to the end. Rejoice, having driven away the lusts of the flesh with fasting and labor; Rejoice, thou who didst keep thy hands from covetousness and theft. Rejoice, curbing your mouth from condemnation and slander; Rejoice, having cleansed your heart from envy and hatred. Rejoice, having departed from the arrogance of the Pharisees; Rejoice, true image of publican humility. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

An angelic singing is performed, when your holy soul from the earthly ones passes away to the Heavenly ones, their face is one according to a single cry: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

Your life shines with bright rays, Father Alexy! From now on, seeing you participate in many faces of righteous spirits, we cry out to you: Rejoice, prophet, revealing the will of the Lord to us; Rejoice, apostle, evangelizing the gospel of the Kingdom of God to the repentant. Rejoice, shepherd, jealous of the glory of God; Rejoice, martyr, by the pleasure of laying down your soul for the flock. Rejoice, fasting, who took up his cross on the frame and walked along the narrow path in the footsteps of Christ; Rejoice, priest, offering the Bloodless Sacrifice for the people. Rejoice, Cherubim, upon whom the Lord of Glory rests; Rejoice, six-winged Seraphim, cry unceasingly the Trisagion hymn to the Lord of hosts. Rejoice, angelic virgin; Rejoice, having arranged many monasteries for the glorification of God. Rejoice, friend of God, Reverend Sergius, everlasting friend; Rejoice, as you wished to see him here as your successor, see him today there, together with you, the Throne of God coming. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

Grace, which was Jesus Christ, was always preached to this city by your pure lips. From now on, all worshiping Christ, I sing: Alleluia.

Singing your greatness, Alexis the most wonderful, corrections and deeds, we are truly perplexed, what we call you; from all good deeds, like a red city, thou hast arranged for the Creator. We also cry out to you: Rejoice, you corrected Adam's fall by the grace of Christ in yourself; Rejoice, after being expelled from the earthly paradise, the heavenly paradise is successful. Hail, Abel, Cro
sprinkled with the view of Christ; Rejoice, new Enoch, pleasing to the Lord. Rejoice, Elijah, ascended by the fiery chariot of virtues; Rejoice, Elisha, who received the blessed grace. Rejoice, Noah, saved from the flood of iniquities by the grace of Christ, like the ark of the rotting ancients, saved; Rejoice, Abraham, not a son, but to yourself as a sacrifice to God. Rejoice, Isaiah, on the Throne lofty and exalted face to face of the Lord who sees; Rejoice, Israel, strengthened by prayer with God and receiving an eternal blessing from Him. Rejoice, Samuel, give blessing as a king; Rejoice, heir of God and joint heir of Christ. Rejoice, Alexis, great miracle worker and quick helper.

O our good shepherd and luminous lamp, most honorable Alexy! Accept this small praise of ours and ask us from Christ God for confirmation in faith, to walk in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord blamelessly, to our Fatherland peace and prosperity, may we forever be able to sing to God in blessed joy: Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos and the 1st kontakion)

^sss^St. Alexis of Moscow ^sss^

Saint Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, miracle worker (in the world Eleutherius) was born in 1292 (according to other sources, 1304) in Moscow into the family of the boyar Theodore Byakont, a native of the Chernigov principality.

The Lord early revealed to the future saint his high destiny. In the twelfth year of his life, Eleutherius spread nets for catching birds, dozed off unnoticed by himself, and suddenly heard a voice: "Alexy! Why are you working in vain? You will catch people." From that day on, the lad began to retire, often attend church, and at the age of fifteen he decided to become a monk. In 1320 he entered the Moscow Epiphany Monastery, where he spent more than twenty years in strict monastic deeds. Its leaders and friends were the remarkable ascetics of this monastery - the elder Gerontius and Stefan, brother of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Then Metropolitan Theognost ordered the future saint to leave the monastery and manage the legal affairs of the Church. The saint fulfilled this position for 12 years with the title of metropolitan governor. At the end of 1350, Bishop Theognost consecrated Alexy as Bishop of Vladimir, and after the death of the Metropolitan, he became his successor in 1354. At that time, the Russian Church was torn apart by great discords and strife, in particular because of the claims of the Metropolitan of Lithuania and Volhynia Roman. In 1356, in order to put an end to unrest and anxiety, the saint went to Constantinople to see the Ecumenical Patriarch. Patriarch Kallistos gave Alexy the right to be considered the archbishop of Kyiv and great Russia with the title of "venerable metropolitan and exarch." On the way back, during a storm at sea, the ship was threatened with death. Alexy prayed and made a vow to build a temple to the saint of that day on which the ship would land on the shore. The storm subsided, the ship landed on 16 August. Moscow greeted the saint enthusiastically.

Despite all the turmoil, St. Alexis took care of his flock in every possible way - he appointed bishops, arranged cenobitic monasteries (on the model of Trinity, founded by St. Sergius), and established relations with the Horde khans. More than once the saint himself had to travel to the Golden Horde. In 1357, the Khan demanded from the Grand Duke that the saint come to him and heal the blind Taidula, his wife. "A petition and a deed exceed the measure of my strength," said Saint Alexis, "but I believe in the One Who made the blind see, He will not despise the prayer of faith." And indeed, through his prayer, sprinkled with holy water, the wife of the khan was healed.

When Grand Duke John died, the saint took under his care his infant son Demetrius (the future Donskoy). The holy bishop had to work hard in order to reconcile and humble the obstinate princes who did not want to recognize the power of Moscow. At the same time, the metropolitan did not leave any work on the construction of new monasteries. He founded in 1361 the Monastery of the Savior Not Made by Hands on the Yauza in Moscow (Andronikov, after the name of the disciple of St. Sergius, the first hegumen of the monastery) according to a vow that he gave when the ship was in distress during his trip to Constantinople; Miracles - in the Moscow Kremlin, restored and two ancient cloisters - Blagoveshchensk in Nizhny Novgorod and Konstantin-Eleninskaya in Vladimir. In 1361, a women's cenobitic monastery named after him (Alexeevskaya) was also built.

Saint Alexy reached a ripe old age - 78 years old, having spent 24 years in the metropolitan see. He reposed on February 12, 1378 and was buried according to his will in the Miracle Monastery. His relics were found miraculously 50 years later, after which they began to honor the memory of the great saint and prayer book for the Russian land.

The boyars were his younger brothers - Feofan (Fofan), the ancestor of the Fofanovs (under the Grand Dukes Ioann Ioannovich Krasny and Dimitri Ioannovich Donskoy), and Alexander Pleshchey, the ancestor of the Pleshcheevs (under the Grand Duke Dimitri Ioannovich). Early chronicle sources (the Rogozhsky Chronicler and the Simeon Chronicle, reflecting the Moscow Code) name St. Alexis in baptism Simeon, and the life, written in 1459 by Pachomius Logofet, and later chronicles - Eleutherius (the colloquial form Olfer (Alfer) with the initial letter corresponds to the monastic name); in some lists of the XVII century. The Nikon chronicle gives both names together. It is possible that the sources reflect the existence of the so-called direct name (corresponding to the saint whose memory falls on his birthday) and baptismal name (a situation well known in the example of double Christian princely names) in Saint Alexy. The close proximity of the names Eleutherius and Simeon is observed in the calendar twice: Simeon the Holy Fool, commemorated July 21, and the martyr Eleutherius, commemorated August 4; Simeon, a relative of the Lord, commemorated September 18, and Eleutherius, martyred with Dionysius the Areopagite, commemorated October 3; the first 2 memories are also present in the shortest versions of the month-word, known in the 14th century. Indications of the date of birth even in the most ancient story of the Code of the city are very contradictory. In sufficiently detailed chronological calculations, on the basis of which the year of birth is considered to be the th: “I have been tonsured for 20 years in Chernets, and lived for 40 years in Chernets, and I was appointed metropolitan for 60 years, and stayed in the metropolitan for 24 years. And the life of all the days of his life is 85 years ”- only the duration of his stay at the head of the metropolis is reliable. At the same time, an indication of 40 years of monastic life could have appeared as a result of a misunderstanding of the message that St. Alexis “stay in the clergy even up to 40 years old”, in which it is more likely not about the duration of the monastic feat, but about the approximate age at appointment of St. Alexy as sovereign governor. Preference in determining the time of birth should be given to the mention of historical figures and events contemporary to St. Alexis that do not agree with the date: “In the reign of the great Tfersky Mikhailov Yaroslavich, under Metropolitan Maxim, before the murder of Akinfov” (that is, before the campaign against Pereyaslavl in winter - the Tver boyar Akinf the Great ). An important piece of evidence from the story that St. Alexis is “17 years older than the Great Prince Semyon (b. c)”, referring the birth of the saint to the year 1300, cannot be unconditionally accepted, since a typo (an error in internal dictation) is possible here in recording the number under the influence the sound of the name ("Seeds" - "seventy" instead of "thirteen"). If we consider the year of birth of St. Alexis th, then Andrei Alexandrovich Gorodetsky, and not Mikhail Yaroslavich, should have been mentioned as the Grand Duke (although the latter returned from the Horde with a label for a great reign in the fall, that is, after the murder of Akinfov, the later biographer of St. Alexis could calculate the beginning of a new reign from the date of death of the book. Andrew - July 27). The godfather of Saint Alexis was Prince John Danilovich (future Kalita).

tonsured

According to his life, having learned to read and write at an early age, St. Alexis already in his adolescence began to dream of a monastic life, after one day, falling asleep while catching birds with snares, he heard a voice calling him a monastic name and foreshadowing that he would become a “catcher of men.”

Mission to the Horde

Saint Alexy heals Khansha Taidula

During the absence of Saint Alexy in Moscow, Grand Duke John Ioannovich died, and Saint Alexy turned out to be in fact one of the regents for the young Demetrius (born c). Under these conditions, in the first half of the reign of Grand Duke Dimitri Ivanovich, the role of St. Alexis, which had already been significant in the years of the “quiet and meek” Ivan Ivanovich, increased even more (although until her death, the influence of her brother, the Moscow Thousand, traditionally remained strong in the princess mother). The Suzdal prince Dmitry Konstantinovich received a label for the great reign of Vladimir, and the young Moscow prince temporarily lost many territorial acquisitions - the "font" of his grandfather Ivan Kalita. The opportunity for a new upsurge of the Moscow principality and its dynasty is largely due to Saint Alexy, who linked the fate of the metropolis with them and used his authority as the First Hierarch in their interests. It was a deeply conscious choice made long before the regency under Prince Dimitri Ioannovich.

For the first time such an alliance, which included distant Novgorod, was tested in a joint campaign of Russian princes against Tver in; after the conclusion of a peace treaty with Moscow and the recognition of the supremacy of Grand Duke Dimitri Ioannovich, the Tver principality also joined him. The significant role of St. Alexis in the all-Russian political life is evidenced by the emergence since his time of the practice of affixing the metropolitan seal of interstate agreements (a treaty between Moscow and Novgorod with defeated Tver). He also acted as a guarantor of inter-princely relations of the Moscow ruling house. With the blessing of St. Alexis, an agreement was concluded between the princes of the Moscow house, Dimitri Ioannovich and Vladimir Andreevich. At the same time, it follows from this agreement that the boyars played a decisive role in determining the policy of the Moscow princes. In the city, St. Alexis sealed with his seal the first testament of Prince Demetrius presented to him, which provided for the division of lands and power after the marriage of Prince Vladimir to the daughter of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Olgerd. Between and years. at the request of St. Alexis, Demetrius Ioannovich handed over the Puddle and Borovsk to Vladimir Andreevich.

The results of the church activities of St. Alexis

For almost a quarter of a century of heading the Russian Church, St. Alexy appointed 21 bishops, moreover, twice in some cathedras, and three times in Smolensk cathedra. During his tenure as Metropolitan, Saint Alexy contributed in every possible way to the spread and consolidation of cenobitic monasticism in Rus'. His name is associated with the creation and renewal of a number of monasteries in Moscow and in the Metropolitan region. In addition to the Spaso-Andronikov (1357), Chudov (about 1365) and Simonov (between 1375 and 1377) monasteries, with his blessing (according to a legend recorded in the 1st half of the 17th century) in 1360-1362. the Vvedensky Vladychny Monastery in Serpukhov was founded, the ancient, but decaying Tsarekonstantinovsky near Vladimir and the Nizhny Novgorod Annunciation were restored. Monastic tradition also attributes to him the creation of the Alekseevsky nunnery in Moscow for his sisters (circa 1358), although this opinion is not shared by all researchers. Under St. Alexis, the veneration of St. Peter continued to spread. Before the trip of St. Alexis to the Horde in the city in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow, at the tomb of Metropolitan Peter, “a candle was lit about itself”; after the prayer service, it was broken up to bless those present. On the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, according to chronicles, a boy, mute and with a paralyzed arm, was healed at the tomb of Metropolitan Peter; Saint Alexy ordered the bells to ring and a prayer service was served.

demise

At the end of his life, he faced the problem of appointing his successor. Obviously, he, like the Grand Duke Dimitri Ivanovich, opposed the candidacy of Cyprian, who had been appointed in advance in Constantinople, imposed from the outside, seeing in this the victory of Olgerd and the failure of his own church policy (which at that moment corresponded to reality, although later the situation changed significantly).

Sergius of Radonezh could appear as an ideal candidate, and St. Alexis could hope, by the power of his authority, to persuade the Grand Duke to agree to this candidacy. However, the monk himself refused the offer of St. Alexis - according to his life, out of humility, but, perhaps, he did not consider himself entitled to dispute the canonicity of the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch and treated Cyprian, with whom he had good personal relations, as a person who was quite worthy to lead the Russian Church after the death of St. Alexis. In such a situation, St. Alexis, apparently, was forced to agree with the candidacy of the grand ducal confessor and printer Mityai, proposed by the Grand Duke Dimitri Ivanovich, although he did not approve of the appointment of the first hierarch from the laity, without a long monastic trial. The negative attitude of St. Alexis towards the grand-princely candidate is reported by sources either openly hostile to the betrothed Metropolitan Michael (“The Tale of Mityai”), or relatively late and influenced by the former (the life of St. Sergius of Radonezh). It is indicative that the tonsure of Mityai-Michael was performed during the life of St. Alexis by the archimandrite of his Chudov Monastery, Elisha Chechetka.

Before his death, he commanded Grand Duke Dimitry Ivanovich to bury himself outside the church, behind the altar of the cathedral in the Miracle Monastery.

Since the 17th century, since the time of Epiphanius of Slavinetsky, it has been customary to associate the creation of a special edition of the translation into Slavic of the New Testament (see Chudovsky New Testament), undoubtedly made in Constantinople no later than the end of the year, with the name of St. Alexis. 14th century Although to present time, researchers do not consider this codex to be the autograph of St. Alexis and refused to date it as the time of the second trip of the saint to Constantinople (judging by the photographs, the codex that disappeared in the city was written in several handwritings, clearly younger than the middle of the 14th century, rather towards the end of the century). In the 17th century The Chudovsky list of the New Testament was used by Epiphanius Slavinetsky and his collaborators as the most authoritative book reference, this tradition was preserved in the preparation of later editions of the Slavic New Testament.

Compositions

• Diploma of Metropolitan Alexy on Chervleny Yar to boyars, Baskaks, clergy and laity about their criminal record to the Ryazan Bishop // AI. T. 1. No. 3. S. 3-4; PDRCP. Part 1. No. 19. Stb. 167-172;
• Teachings of Metropolitan Alexy from the Apostolic Acts to Christ-loving Christians // PrTSO. 1847. Part 5. S. 30-39;
• Nevostruev K. Rediscovered instructive epistle of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia // DC. 1861. Part 1. S. 449-467;
• Leonid [Kavelin], archim. The village of Cherkizovo // Mosk. ved. 1882. June 17. No. 166, p. 4;
• Kholmogorovs V. and G. Radonezh tithe (Moscow district) // Choidr. 1886. Book. 1. P. 30. Note. 2;
• Word of the Right Reverend Alexy Metropolitan // Macarius. History of the RC. Book. 3. S. 543-544. Comment. 160.

Brief Life of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus'

St. Alexis, mit-ro-po-lit Mos-kov-sky and all Russia is a miracle worker (in the world of Elev-feriy) was born in 1292 (according to other sources, 1304) in Moscow in the family of boy-yari-on Fe-o-do-ra Bya-kon-ta, you-walker from Cher-ni-gov -th prince-same-stva.

The Lord ra-but opened the bu-du-shche-mu-ho-ti-te-lu of his you-so-fore-for-meaning. For two-on-the-twenty-years of life, Elev-fe-riy ras-ki-null se-ti for catching birds, not-met-but for s-mo-go-be-for-dre -small and suddenly clearly heard a voice: "Aleksiy! Why are you working in vain? You will catch people." From that day on, the father began to retire, often visit the church, and at the age of fifteen he decided to become a foreigner. In 1320, he entered the Moskovsky Bo-go-yav-lensky mo-na-styr, where he spent more than two-twenty years in strict foreign -skih in motion. Ru-ko-vo-di-te-la-mi him and his friends-mi-whether for-me-cha-tel-nye in the movement of this obi-te-li - old Ge -ron-tiy and Stefan, brother of the reverend Ser-gius Ra-do-nezh-sko-go. Then, mit-ro-po-lit in-ve-lel bu-du-sche-mu saint-ti-te-lu leave mo-on-stir and for-ve-do-wat su-deb-na mi de la mi church vie. This position was performed by the saint for 12 years with the title of mit-ro-by-anyone-on-the-place. At the end of 1350, Bishop Theognost consecrated Alexy as Bishop of Vladimir. Upon the death of Theognost, the patriarch appointed Alexy as metropolitan. The table charter of the patriarch to the new metropolitan is dated June 30, 1354, according to which Alexy, not being a Greek, was elevated to the rank of metropolitan as an exception, for his virtuous life and spiritual virtues. At that time, the Russian Church was once-di-ra-e-ma-la ve-li-ki-mi non-stro-e-ni-i-mi and ras-straight-mi, in particular -sti, because of the pre-ten-ziy mit-ro-po-li-ta Lith-you and Vo-ly-no Ro-ma-na. In 1356, in order to end the turmoil and trembling, the saint from-right-vill-sya in Kon-stan-ti-no-pol to All- len-sko-mu pat-ri-ar-hu. Pat-ri-arch Kal-list gave Alex-siy the right to consider ar-hi-epi-sko-pom Ki-e-va and Ve-li-koi Russia with ti-tu-lom " all-honest-on-go mit-ro-po-li-ta and ek-zar-ha". On the way back during the boo-ri on the sea, ko-slave-lu gro-zi-la gi-bel. Alexei prayed and made a vow to build a temple of the holy day, on some day a ship would land on the shore. The storm subsided, the ship arrived on August 16-a-hundred. Vos-tor-women-but meet-ti-la saint-ti-te-la Moscow.

Despite all the turmoil, St. Alexis was all-che-bo-for-your-flock about his flock - he became a bishop, arranged for -she-living-tel-nye mo-on-stay-ri (according to the model of Tro-its-ko-go, os-no-van-no-go-pre-in-the-nim Ser-gi- eat), on-la-zhi-val from-no-she-niya with or-dyn-ski-mi ha-na-mi. More than once, the holy and self-mo-mu came-ho-di-moose to go to the Golden Ord. In 1357, the khan tre-bo-val at the ve-li-ko-th prince, so that the saint would come to him and heal the blind Tai-du-lu - his su-pru-gu. “Pro-she-nie and de-lo pre-you-sha-et the measure of my strength,” said St. Alexis, “but I believe To-mu, Someone- ry gave sight to the blind, - He does not despise you pray to the faith. And really, according to his prayer, sprinkled with holy water, su-pru-ga ha-na was-tse-li-las.

When the great Prince John died, the saint took under his guardianship his son Di-mitriy (bu-du- sche-th Don-sko-th). The holy vlady had to work hard in order to appease and humble the slings of the princes, who did not want to -know the power of Moscow. At the same time, he did not leave the mit-ro-po-lit and labors on the arrangement of new cloisters. They founded os-no-va-ny in 1361 Spa-sa Nehru-ko-tvo-ren-no-go Ob-ra-for mo-na-styr on Yau-ze in Moscow (An-d-ro- no-kov, by the name of the teacher-no-ka-be-good-no-go Ser-gius, the first yoke-me-on mo-on-stay-rya) on both-that, to he gave something when the ship was in distress during his trip to Kon-stan-ti-no-pol; Chu-dov - in the Moscow Kremlin, re-stand-new-le-na and two ancient ob-the-li - Bla-go-ve-schen-sky in Nizhny Novy -ro-de and Kon-stan-ti-no-Ele-nin-skaya in Vla-di-mi-re. In 1361, it would have been the same in a stro-e-on-women's convent named after him (Alek-se-ev-skaya).

Saint Alexis reached a deep old age - 78 years, having been at the mit-ro-by-li-whose cafe for 24 years. He reposed on February 12, 1378, and in a gre-ben for-a-ve-shcha-tion in Chu-do-vom mo-on-sta-re. Would his power be ob-re-te-na in 50 years in a miraculous way, after something began to honor the memory of a saint ti-te-la and mo-lit-ven-no-ka for the Russian land.

The Complete Life of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus'

Prayers

Troparion to Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', Tone 8

Like an apostle to the throne, / and a doctor, and a favorable minister, / flowing to your honest race, St. Alexis the God-wise, miracle worker, / having come down, we brightly celebrate love in your memory, / in songs and singing rejoicing and glorifying Christ, / such grace to you bestowing healings / and your city a great affirmation.

Translation: To the one who shares the throne with, and the beautiful healer, and the servant of God, we come to your revered cancer, St. Alexy the God-wise, the miracle worker, having gathered with love on the day of your memory, we lightly celebrate, rejoicing in psalms and spiritual hymns and glorifying Christ, who gave you such healing and your city great strength.

John Troparion to Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', Tone 8

Like a light-bearing radiance, today is your memory, glorious, / illuminating the souls and bodies of the faithful, / and exuding healing jets with God-pleasing prayers, / father to St. fair miracle worker, / stand before the Throne of Christ, / / do not be stingy for us, praying that our souls be saved.

Translation: Today, your light-bearing memory has shone forth, glorified, illuminating the souls and bodies of believers, you exude streams of healing with prayers pleasing to God, Father St. Alexy, therefore we pray to you, as sharing the throne with the bishops and the chosen miracle worker who is to come, do not stop praying for us and for the salvation of our souls.

John Troparion to Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', Tone 4

Apostolic successors to the hierarchs, / All Russia shepherd and teacher, / All-blessed Father Alexy, / Pray to the Master of all / Grant peace to your flock, / and salvation to souls, / / ​​and great mercy.

Translation: Sharing the throne with the bishops - the successors of the apostles, all of Russia and teacher, all-blessed Father Alexy, pray to the Lord of all to grant your peace, salvation to souls and great mercy.

John Troparion to Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', Tone 3

Hearing a voice from above from God, / having labored from youth, wise, / in prayers, and in tenderness, and tears, / in vigilance and veneration, being the image of virtue, / henceforth and the house of the Most Pure Spirit appear. / For this sake of Russian I am a metropolitan bishop having been venerated, / Thou hast saved the flock of Christ good, / heretical attacks, without hesitation, repulse / and erect the churches of Christ, to St. Alexis, / gathered the monastic faces / and brought these Christs. / Die, appear, like sleeping, / intact be before many years, / giving healing to the sick. / Thus we pray to you: / pray to Christ God to save your city of Moscow unharmed / / and the country and Orthodox people by His great mercy.

Translation: Hearing a voice from above from God, from your youth, you, wise, in prayers and tears, in fasting, you were an example, and therefore became the house of the Most Pure Spirit. Therefore, you were honored with the rank of bishop of the Russian Metropolis, you perfectly guarded the flock of Christ, you repulsed the attacks without a doubt and erected churches of Christ, Saint Alexy, the monastics gathered and led them to Christ. After death, he remained as if sleeping, was kept intact for many years, giving healing to the sick. Therefore, we pray to you: pray to Christ God to keep your city Moscow intact, and the country, and Orthodox people, by His great mercy.

John Troparion to Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', for the Uncovering of Relics, Tone 2

Like a rich treasure, many years in the hidden lands, / your honest relics found miraculous, / all-blessed Father St. Alexis: / we receive medicine from below, we get rich / and we glorify Christ, saying // glory to the glorifying holy one.

Translation: Like a precious treasure, hidden for many years underground, we have found the miraculous revered by yours, all-blessed Father Saint Alexy, while accepting healing from them, we enrich ourselves and glorify Christ, saying: “Glory to Him who glorifies His saints.”

Troparion to the Saints of Moscow, tone 4

Mother See of Russia, / true custodian of apostolic traditions, / pillars of steadfastness, mentor Orthodoxy, / Peter, Alexis, Iono, Philippe and Hermogenes, / Pray to the Lord of all / grant peace to the universe, / and greatness to our souls mercy.

Translation: First Hierarchs of Russia, true keepers of apostolic traditions, unshakable pillars, mentors of Orthodoxy, Peter, Alexei, Jonah, Philip and Hermogenes, pray to the Lord of all to grant peace to the universe and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion to St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', Tone 8

The divine and most honorable Saint of Christ, / the new miracle worker Alexy, / faithfully all singing, people, let us appease with love, like a great shepherd, / a servant and teacher of the wisdom of the Russian earth. / Today, in his memory kshe, / joyfully cry out a song to the God-bearing: / as if having boldness towards God, / deliver us from diverse circumstances, let us call you // rejoice, affirmation of our city.

Translation: The divine and especially revered Saint Hierarch of Christ, the new miracle worker Alexy, with faith, singing everything, people, with love we will glorify with love, as a great shepherd, minister and teacher of the wise Russian land. Today, having gathered on the day of his memory, we will joyfully sing a song: as having to God, deliver us from diverse disasters, but we cry out to you: "Rejoice, strength of our city."

In kontakion to St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', Tone 3

Like a luminous memory of the saint / destroy despondency for everyone / and the light of the cover of heavenly gifts, / calling everyone to fun: / from God, Saint Alexis, gain grace to drive away illnesses / and heal all people, / / ​​and I imagine the same steppe don't show up.

Translation: The light-bearing memory of the saint dispelled the sadness of everyone and shone with the light of Heavenly gifts, calling everyone to the feast: for from God, Saint Alexy received the grace to drive away illnesses and heal all people, and for the monks you appeared the way (ascension to God).

In kontakion to St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', for the uncovering of relics, tone 8

It’s as well as the uninhabited one, from the grill to us/ from many years of the trees, honestly your rejuvenes are imperishable,/ the Holy Aleksiye,/ the gratitude of the whole country and all our miracles and goodness, or let it down, and let it give. Rejoice, father, luminary of Russia.

Translation: Like an unset sun from the tomb, your revered incorruptible relics, hidden for many years, shone upon us, St. Alexis, we receive grace through you, for you enrich this whole country and all of us with miracles and beauty, the action of grace, let us sing to you: “Rejoice, father, luminary Russia".

Kontakion to the Saints of Moscow, Tone 3

Be pious in the saints, / and guide people to God’s understanding, and please God well, / for the sake of Him with imperishability and miracles glorified, / / ​​like disciples of God’s grace.

Translation: You piously lived as saints and people to the knowledge of God, and served God well, therefore from Him you were glorified by incorruption and wonderworking, taught by God.

Magnification to the Saints of Moscow

We magnify you, / Saints of Christ / Peter, Alexis, Iono, Philippe and Hermogene, / and honor your holy memory: / you pray for us / / Christ our God.

Prayer to Saint Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus'

Oh, most honorable and sacred head and filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, dwelling place of the Savior with the Father, great bishop, our warm intercessor, Saint Alexis! Standing at the Throne of all the Tsar, and enjoying the Light of the Consubstantial Trinity, and cherubically from the Angels proclaiming the Trisagion song, having greatness and unexplored boldness to the All-Merciful Lord, praying to save the people of your flock, only begotten new ty language; affirm the well-being of the holy churches; monastics to the feat of a good current strengthen; this city ( or: all this; even in the monastery: this holy abode) and all cities and countries keep well and keep the holy undefiled faith, so keep the Lord; the whole world die, deliver us from famine and destruction and save us from the attack of foreigners; console the old, punish the young (teach), make the foolish, have mercy on widows, intercede for orphans, grow up, return the captive, heal the weak and everywhere warmly call on you and with faith flow to the race of the honest and your multi-healing relics, zealously falling down and praying to you from all misfortunes and troubles by your intercession of freedom, let us call you: O God-chosen shepherd, the star of the all-bright mental firmament, the secret of Zion, the unconquerable pillar, the world-inspired flower of paradise, the all-gold mouth of the Word, Moscow praise, decoration of all Russia! Pray for us the All-Generous and Human-loving Christ our God, so that on the day of the terrible coming of His holy standing He will deliver us and the joys of the saints, the communicants will create with all the saints forever. Amen.

Second Prayer to Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus'

Oh, most holy father, Christ's saint Alexis, our shepherd and teacher, do not reject us (names) who flow with faith to your intercession, but soon rush to pray to the King of kings and the Lord of lords, that He may deliver His flock from the wolves that destroy it, and protect every Christian country and save with your holy prayers from the world of revolt and cowardice, invasions of a foreigner and internecine strife, from famine and destruction, the flood, and the sword, and fire, and vain death, and as if by healing from the blindness of the queen of Hagar, you saved your fatherland, so have mercy on us, mind, word and deed in the darkness of sinful beings, and hut fore us the wrath of God and eternal executions, as if by your intercession and help, by His mercy and grace, Christ God will give us a quiet and sinless life to live in this world and at His Terrible Judgment will grace the right standing with all the saints. Amen.

Photo of the day